1
as in to frown
to take on a gloomy or forbidding look
his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to obscure
to make dark, dim, or indistinct
years of accumulated grime have darkened the painting until it can barely be seen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to mar
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable
the scandal darkened his otherwise sterling reputation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of darken
The windows are darkened and the place, as rundown as their own, is too large to be a summer cottage.
—
Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
It wasn’t supposed to set for another hour and a half, but streetlights flickered on as the sky darkened and the dust finally caught up to Olbinski.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Flowers are typically pale blue to lavender, darkening along the midrib and toward the tip of each petal.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
By the time the Nashville five piece took the Grandstand stage, the temperature had dipped below 80 degrees and the darkening skies took on a purple shade.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for darken
Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
It wasn’t supposed to set for another hour and a half, but streetlights flickered on as the sky darkened and the dust finally caught up to Olbinski.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Flowers are typically pale blue to lavender, darkening along the midrib and toward the tip of each petal.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
By the time the Nashville five piece took the Grandstand stage, the temperature had dipped below 80 degrees and the darkening skies took on a purple shade.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for darken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darken
Verb
-
In Israel it is frowned upon to criticize the nation, especially in front of outsiders.—
Uriel Kon
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
-
While some conservative clerics still frown upon women taking part in beauty pageants, many others in the Muslim community have been supportive of Hashwi.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Preliminary findings from Fussell’s ongoing research show that early racial disparities in who returned to New Orleans after Katrina have faded in the years since the storm.—
Dian Zhang,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Low-skill industries such as sugar, and then oil and chemicals, and then tourism—by now sugar has faded, but the others, along with the port, still power the local private economy—seemed to provide what Louisiana needed.—
Nicholas Lemann,
New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
During field surveys, authorities recorded that ash fall had been heavy enough to obscure road markings.—
Shane Croucher
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
-
University students have become savvy at using and obscuring their ChatGPT use.—
Joelle Renstrom
August 28,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The order gradually shuts down operations at the detention facility in the Everglades that has been marred by several lawsuits, protests and complaints of civil rights violations from detainees and their lawyers.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Richardson's first two seasons with the Colts have been marred by injuries and inconsistent play, but the Colts decided to run with Jones as the QB1 to start the season.—
Matt Wadleigh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
For a moment, while the nation stared at her from their living rooms, this woman had closed her eyes.—
Deborah Levy,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
-
All eyes in the golf world are staring at East Lake this week, host venue for the 2025 Tour Championship.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Rodriguez said Swift and Kelce ordered the pan-seared, blackened Mahi-Mahi ($45), served with lobster risotto, julienned vegetables and red pepper sauce.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Aug. 2025
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Each footstep sent up clouds of dust and ash, coating everything, including my mouth and teeth, in fine grit, blackening my snot and saliva.—
River Selby
August 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In the years ahead, the distinction between AI tools and work tools will blur.—
Khadim Batti,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
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Others wonder if the broader involvement of Hudson and behind-the-scenes maneuvering blurs the lines between team access and personal branding.—
Cecil Merkerson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, an egg past its use-by date is not necessarily spoiled.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
2 Sep. 2025
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Without spoiling too much, all of this – and Edwards’ actions during the raid in particular – lead to serious repercussions.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Darken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/darken. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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